Gearing.



W. SWEET. GBARING. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30 1907.

923,382. Patented Jun 1,1909.

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W, SWEET. G-EARING'. APPLICATION FILED 1530.30, 1907.

Patented June 1, 1909.

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UNITED SATES ATNT FFIQIZ.

WARREN SWEET, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

GE ARIN G.

Application filed December 30, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN SWEET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in washing machine gearing, and particularly to that class of washing machines in which a pivotally mounted tub is rotated in one direction and the agitator is simultaneously rotated in the other direction.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved means for readily and conveniently removing the agitator from the interior of the tub and swinging it backward out of the way with the tub lid without detaching or deranging the operating mechanism.

My invention consists of a washing machine gearing in which the driving shaft, the driven shaft and their operative connections can all be swung upward into a position substantially at right-angles to their working position without deranging their driving connections.

The principal novel feature of my invention resides in the means for permitting the tub lid and the operating mechanism to be swung back clear of the tub, and the means for automatically locking the tub against rotation when the lid is open.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my in vention, partly in vertical section to show the manner of mounting the tub, and the arrangement of the agitator, also showing in dotted outline the position of the tub lid, agitator and actuating mechanism when the lid is at the limit of its open position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the lid partly broken away to show the interior of the tub. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side view of the pivotal mounting for the power shaft in position upon a fragmentary portion of the shaft. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same with the shaft omitted.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Serial No. 408,460.

tub 1, of any proper proportions, contour and material, but preferably circular, as shown, has a hinged lid 2 having a central vertical opening for the agitator shaft, and is provided upon its bottom with a centrally arranged casting 3 having a suitable circular race way upon its outer face and provided with a central pendent stud 4 having a diametric pin 5 in its lower end. This stud 4 is mounted loosely in the pendent boss 6 which is fixed to any proper supporting frame and has the upper face of its enlarged upper end provided with a circular groove or track for a series of antifriction balls 7. The stud 6 is also provided with a washer 8. The tub thus constructed and mounted is adapted for a rotary movement on the said ball bearings, and is provided with a hinge 9 for the lid 2 having upon its upper portion an upright lug 10 for the purpose hereafter described. The supporting frame on which the tub is thus pivotally mounted may be of any suitable form and construction, but is preferably formed of the following stamped metal strips: the upright standards 11 whose lower ends form the rear legs and whose upper curved ends are brought near together and firmly secured to opposite sides of the power-shaft bearing 12 by means of a pin 13 which passes loosely through the lateral opening 14 therein, Fig. 3; two companion pieces 15 and 16 whose upper and rear ends are fixed to the inner faces of the respective standards 11, and whose forward and lower ends form the respective front legs 18 of the frame, the intermediate portions of each forming two diagonal parts of the frame, and a central support for the stud 6; and a lateral bracing strip 17 which has its ends fixed to the standards 11 near the lower ends thereof and has its intermediate portion secured to the front legs 18 to give the supporting frame proper strength and rigidity. In the said central opening in the tub lid is loosely mounted a vertically arranged agitator shaft 19 whose upper end is loosely mounted in the forward end of the bracket 20, and whose lower end is provided with a fixed agitator bracket 21 on which the agitator 2'2 is slidably but not rotatably mounted.

The bevel gear wheel 23 is loosely mounted on the agitator shaft and is fixed on the tub lid 2. The bevel gear wheel 24 is fixed on the agitator shaft beneath the bracket 20.

The bracket 20 has a shaft bearing 25 upon its rear end in which the forward end of the I tub against any rotary movement. The tub power shaft 26 is rotatably mounted, the other end of the shaft being loosely mounted in the said pivoted bearing 12. This power shaft carries upon its inner end a fixed bevel pinion 27 adapted for a meshing engagement with the said gear-wheels 23 and 24, and it is provided upon its outer end with a fixed crank-handle 28.

The operation and manner of employing my invention thus described is obvious and briefly stated is as follows: i/Vhen the operator turns the crank-handle 28 continuously in either direction it will simultaneously rotatc the tub in one direction and the agitator shaft in the other direction, thereby providing the contents of the tub with the desired agitation in a well understood manner. Vi hen it is desired to clear the tub of the operating mechanism the operator simply opens the lid 2 and throws it back into the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1, in which position the inner end of the handle 28 rests against the hinge 9, as shown, and thereby limits the outward movement of the lid and firmly supports the same. To swing the hinged lid and its surmounted operating mechanism to the dotted position of Fig. 1, the operator adjusts the crank handle to the elevated position shown in full lines in Fig.

1, after which he uses it as a lever in tilting the lid and mechanism upward as described.

The gear mechanism is so adjusted relatively to the tub that at each alternate revolution of the tub the lug 10 comes directly beneath the driving shaft and in alinement with the space between the upper ends of the standards 11. in this opening movement of the lid thevdistance between the gears and the pivot 13 on which the power shaft turns will. constantly vary because the lid which carries the agitator shaft with its gears is supported from a different pivot, viz: the hinge 9, and the power-shaft will be automatically shifted outwardly in the pivoted bearing 12 to compensate for this variation, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. When the lid and operating mechanism are in this outwardly tilted position the upright lug 10 on the hinge 9, assumes an approximately hori zontal position between the upper ends of the-standards 11, thereby rigidly locking the being now free of all obstructions the operator can conveniently change the contents of the tub, or employ a wash board for temporary purposes with the same convenience as in an ordinary wash tub.

Obviously my invention may be variously modified in its details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, which consists broadly in pivotally mounting the operating mechanism of a washing machine upon its supporting frame in such a manner that it can all be swung clear of the tub and still at the same time automatically lock the tub against any rotary movement thereof.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of employing the same what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine gearing, a vertical driven shaft; a fixed gear wheel mounted on the said shaft near its upper end; a bevel gear wheel loosely mounted on the said shaft below the fixed gear wheel; a fixed support; a horizontal driving shaft pivotally mounted thereon a bevel pinion fixed on the inner end of the driving shaft in mesh with the said gear Wheels; the said gearing being adapted to be elevated into a position approximately at right angles to its normal position without deranging its driving connections.

2. In a washing machine gearing, vertical driven shaft; a pivotally mounted driving shaft; means for operatively connecting the said shafts; and a pivotal bearing for the driving shaft, whereby the entire gearing can be shifted to a plane at approximately right angles to its normal position without deranging its driving connections.

3. In a washing machine mechanism a fixed support for the driving shaft, a hori Zontal driving shaft slidably and pivotally mounted in the said support and adapted to be swung at right angles to. its working position.

Signed by me at Fort Wayne, Allen county, State of Indiana, this 28th day of December WARREN SWEET. Witnesses AUGUSTA VIBERG, AUGUSTE SPIEGEL. 

